Both existing and emerging technologies offer promise for solving problems in   homeland security, national defense, and related areas - but finding the right   technologies to address a particular problem is a complex and difficult   challenge.   The Technology Advantage Center at the Oak Ridge National   Laboratory   provides expert assistance in finding and evaulating technologies   that match   customer requirements.

  The Technology Advantage Center functions as a Clearinghouse and honest   broker for technologies that can be used in protecting the nation against threats   to its safety and security. The Center's cadre of technology scouts, analysts, and   senior scientists work with customers to determine their requirements and   quickly find appropriate technologies that meet the identified needs.

  To identify candidate technologies, the Center is developing an automated   search engine that uses intelligent software agents to perform tailored,
   high-speed searches of relevant electronic information. Augmenting the search   engine is a network of contacts that spans government, industry, academia, and   other sources, ensuring that the latest information on emerging technologies   (including unpublished R&D) is included. Following this comprehensive search,   the Center convenes an expert panel to analyze each candidate technology,   providing answers to such critical questions as:

•   What are its technical capabilities?
•   How effective is it in achieving its primary objective?
•   How quickly can it be deployed?
•   Do the costs of implementing it outweigh the potential benefits?

  The customer receives a clear, credible, and objective assessment of the   available technologies. The Center can also assist customers with technology   testing, technology roadmap preparation, rapid prototyping, and technology   implementation.

  The Center has assessed the capabilities of a “See Inside Rooms” technology   for a DoD agency and orchestrated the vision for Objective Force Warrior, a   major  U.S. Army science  and technology initiative, including a comprehensive   review   of high-tech solutions that will be available by 2010 and 2018.